Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Cubs 365, May 30

On this day in 1922, the goat of the 1918 World Series, Max Flack, was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for fellow outfielder Cliff Heathcote between games of a double header.

Flack was a fan favorite until he dropped a crucial fly ball in the ninth inning of the deciding game of the 1918 World Series. That error allowed the winning run to score. His defensive lapse seemed a little fishy considering that Flack led the league in fielding percentage three of the next four years. The Black Sox of 1919 believed it was proof that the Cubs had thrown the series.

On the day he was traded, Flack played for the Cubs in game 1 and for the Cardinals in game 2. The Cubs won both games.

Flack played three more seasons in St. Louis before retiring. Heathcote played for the Cubs until 1930.